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[tahariel]

Could you guys help me out? I'm writing a sample movie review for that blogging job I'm trying out for but I could do with somebody else taking a look. It's short and below the cut! You know you want to, right? I've reviewed the movie Hanna, but don't worry if you haven't seen it I want your opinion anyway.

With its slow, artistic opening scenes and the care with which director Joe Wright takes in making every shot of the icy forest where this movie opens beautiful, a viewer might be forgiven for thinking they had wandered into an arthouse movie rather than a film about a ruthless, emotionless child assassin. But while Hanna is a thoughtful, well-paced and often quiet film, much like Wright’s earlier period pieces, it is also punctuated by a rip-roaring soundtrack and showcases a bold and kinetic grasp of gritty, realistic action that brings to mind the best of the Bourne trilogy – Wright is not afraid to get his heroine’s hands dirty.

The almost fairytale structure of the film gives it a resonance and weight it might not have otherwise had. Hanna [Saoirse Ronan] is raised alone by her father Erik [Eric Bana] in the wilderness, trained from birth to be the perfect assassin and without any knowledge of the outside world. Bright and curious, her extreme upbringing of survival skills, hunting and vicious sparring is brought across sparingly and carefully through a few key scenes. Wright allows the landscape of unforgiving ice and snow to illustrate the harsh focus of her life for us, which only emphasises the culture shock Hanna experiences when she is dropped into the world, away from her isolated upbringing and forced to learn fast or die.

After a slow beginning, once we leave the forest the plot gains speed quickly, bursting into action as Hanna is forced to go on the run from the woman she has been raised to kill, Marissa Wiegler [the excellent Cate Blanchett]. Tearing across borders and fighting off a gang of hired killers, some of the best moments come when Hanna is ingratiating herself with an unsuspecting family and trying to make friends with their daughter, but failing utterly to pass for normal.

With a bold eye for style and aggressive, vicious use of action to draw out the darker edge to the fairytale structure of the film, Hanna could be described as the thinking man’s Kick-Ass. And after the mess of The Lovely Bones, a wonderful vehicle for Ronan to once again prove what a fantastic young actress she is. Well worth watching.

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Comments

[zoeiona.livejournal.com]

I liked this for the most part but the first paragraph is a bit overdone/purple. Tone it down to the level of the rest, and it'll be great. (I've not seen the film, btw.)

[tahariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you darling- I really appreciate it. Several people have said so so I'll fix it before I send it out :)

[smoonyc.livejournal.com]

I liked it but also agree that the first paragraph has a bit too many adjectives/purple but overall enjoyed it! I saw the film -- I mostly agree though I think the ending kind of fell flat to the rest of it.

[tahariel.livejournal.com]

Thanks hon- several people have said so so I'll fix that and send it out :)

I liked the ending myself- I loved how blank she was when she shot Marissa, how it was exactly like killing the deer was for her. Made it more shocking. But mostly I love that whole dark fairytale feel where she's raised in a forest by her father then sent out into the dangerous world to find her way and defeat the Evil Queen. Really cool use of structure.

[hpdm4ever.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the movie but your review looks good to me. Only suggestions I have are adding a little bit more on the director. You mention Wright's other period pieces but no titles. Knowing what else a director has done is a huge indicator on whether or not I'll see a movie. Good luck with your blogging job!